SUICIDE RULED IN FIGHT WITH BOUNTY HUNTER

A self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head -- not a bullet from a
bounty hunter's pistol -- killed a Logan County man wanted for failing
to appear in court on a marijuana possession charge, the state medical
examiner's office ruled Friday.

Richard Grant Morava, 34, died Thursday night after what was believed
to be a gunbattle with private investigator Harold Ollie Lewis, 48.

But an autopsy performed Friday in Oklahoma City revealed that Morava
died of a single shot to the head from a .22-caliber weapon. He died
at the scene.

Lewis, of Oklahoma City, was carrying a 9 mm Glock.

On Friday, Ray Blakeney, operations director for the state medical
examiner's office, said an analysis of the gunshot wound uncovered the
discrepancy in weapons. The medical examiner ruled Morava's death a
suicide.

Lewis told officers he and Morava exchanged words -- and then gunfire
- -- after the victim was found hiding in tall grass behind a trailer
home at 11625 Bart Drive in southern Logan County.

Lewis told officers the victim fired twice at him -- and he returned
fire with three shots from his weapon.

But a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said
an OSBI probe as of Friday had determined that Morava fired a single
fatal shot -- indicating a suicide.

The bounty hunter, though, assumed he fired the shot that killed
Morava. Lewis could not be reached Friday for comment.

Lewis told law officers he was hired by a bail bond company to locate
the victim, who failed to appear in court on a charge of marijuana
possession after a former felony conviction.

But Guthrie bail bondsman Don Dodson said Lewis contacted him to
inquire whether Lewis could collect a $400 bounty on Morava. Dodson
agreed over the telephone but never met Lewis.

Authorities said the trailer apparently belonged to Morava's
girlfriend, Sue Romero. Two children, ages 9 and 13, were at the
trailer at the time of the shooting.

When Lewis went to the trailer, the 13-year-old answered the door,
then went to the back of the trailer to search for Morava.

The teen-ager reportedly went with Lewis outside to look for Morava.
After the shooting, Lewis escorted the two boys to a neighbor's home,
where he called authorities to report the shooting.

Morava's estranged wife, Susan Morava, said Friday she feared "Rick"
Morava was on drugs.

"Losing a life is not worth anything," she said.

She said her estranged husband was basically a passive individual
unless he was under the influence of drugs, and then he could get aggressive.

Rob Hudson, Logan County district attorney, said Friday his only
concern is whether Lewis has a gun permit.

"Bounty hunters are more common than we realize, but incidents with
them don't usually lead to violence. A defendant usually acquiesces
easily. This is the first time I've heard one of these turning
violent," Hudson said.

The OSBI and the Logan County sheriff's office are investigating. No
charges are expected to be filed against Lewis.